Low Vitamin K Status and Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Vitamin K is a cofactor necessary for the biological activity of proteins like Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which reduce calcification and help preserve lung function. This study aims to determine, first, whether low vitamin K status is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and secondary, whether the level of vitamin K is associated with COPD severity, smoking exposure, or mortality. Methods: The plasma concentration of dephosphorylated uncarboxylated (dp-uc) MGP was used as an inverse biomarker for vitamin K in 98 COPD patients from the CODEX-P COPD study and 986 controls from the DanFunD study. Low vitamin K status was defined as the upper quartile of dp-ucMGP (>589 pmol/L). Using a logistic regression model, we examined whether low vs. high/moderate vitamin K status increased the odds ratio (OR) of having COPD. Secondary analyses, in the COPD cohort only, examined the association between low vitamin K status and COPD severity, smoking exposure in packyears and all-cause mortality, using a Welch’s t-test and log-rank test, respectively. Results: Low vitamin K status was associated with increased odds of having COPD, OR 9.7 (95% CI [5.5 to 17.5], p < 0.001). We found no associations between low vitamin K and COPD severity (est. −0.03, p = 0.7; 95% CI [−0.2 to 0.1]), smoking exposure (p = 0.7), or all-cause mortality (p = 0.5). Conclusions: Low vitamin K status was associated with substantially higher odds of having COPD compared to high/moderate vitamin K status. No association was found between low vitamin K status and COPD severity, smoking exposure, or all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to determine if vitamin K plays a role in the pathophysiology of COPD and whether supplement therapy is indicated.
Source: Biomedicines
Authors: Daniel Alexander Ackermann, Allan Linneberg, Ema Rastoder, Anna Kubel Vognsen, Anne Ahrendt Bjerregaard, Lennart Friis-Hansen, Niklas Rye Jørgensen, Caroline Emma Hedsund, Niklas Dyrby Johansen, Daniel Modin, Maria Dons, Mats C. Højbjerg Lassen, Kristoffer Grundtvig Skaarup, Ditte Vesterlev, Mia Moberg, Julie Janner, Josefin Eklöf, Lars Pedersen, Elisabeth Bendstrup, Christian B. Laursen, Jørn Carlsen, Tor Biering-Sørensen, Jens-Ulrik Stæhr Jensen, Pradeesh Sivapalan
Institutions: Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Rigshospitalet, Amager Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen
Language: English
Topic: Vitamin K Research Studies
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Awards: G109771712, G1373804087, G1592026842, G168756194, G1743159859, G2085194632, G2816908038, G3295711917, G353961983, G3649213950, G3961309603, G4105738219, G4778908742, G4792468327, G4869137933, G5102343652, G5168454380, G5452513649, G5907713324, G6211826396, G6996658282, G774847681, G8135701725, G970556896
OpenAlex ID: W4408929147